WORRIED campaigners are voicing concerns for the future of a historic building which could be demolished to make way for flats.

But residents on Ditchfield Road, Widnes, and the surrounding streets fear that the 120-year-old Victorian house, called Rydal Mount, is could be destined to be replaced by accommodation for rehabilitated homeless people, or a home for 'young persons'.

And following the latest amended plan by the owner of Rydal Mount, Community Integrated Care (CIC), the residents fear that if the aim is to build luxury apartments the affluent owners would have too many cars to comfortably fit on the site.

The residents have launched three separate petitions of objection.

They say that plans handed to the council are for a three-storey building which, they claim, would be out of character with the traditional two-storey buildings, and some properties would be overlooked.

They also claim there is a 'fair prospect' that the apartments will be used to house young or homeless people aged 18-30 who 'need support'. They say CIC already has such a facility in Runcorn.

A campaign spokeswoman said: 'Rydal Mount is a beautiful old Victorian home and the buildings that will be going in are three storeys while everything else is two storeys.

'We don't know who the flats are intended for, but if it is affluent people who have more than one car then there will be a parking issue and traffic hazard.'This is part of history - why should history be taken away for future generations for someone else to make profit?

A spokeswoman for CIC said: 'Rydal Mount is an exciting new private ownership development aimed at providing affordable housing for the local community.

'We are working with planning to develop attractive apartments in keeping with the area.'